Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Iraq’s Ramadi Blows Up On Returnees And Anbar Leaders

Ramadi was finally cleared at the start of February 2016.
Afterward local officials warned that it would take anywhere from two to six
months for the city to be cleared of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left
behind by the defeated Islamic State. The problem was politicians and religious
leaders were already encouraging people to go back to the city, which ended
with dozens being killed and wounded by the bombs. The military stepped in and
halted returns, while the local leaders began blaming each other for who was
responsible for the casualties.

Rising fatalities in Ramadi led to a halt in returns to the
city in April. On April
24 the Iraqi forces stopped people going back to Ramadi. Up to that point at
least 49 people had died and 79 were wounded from explosions according to the United
Nations. The process to remove the IEDs was slowed due to a lack of experts
and contractors to do the job. That didn’t stop religious and political leaders
telling people to go back to the city despite the dangers. This was despite the
fact that the head of the security committee on the Anbar council said
it would take two months or more to remove all of the explosives, while the
Khalidiya council estimated
it might take as long as six months. Those comments were made in March, while
residents had already begun returning in February almost immediately after the
city had been freed. That was obviously premature.

Anbar officials were originally touting returns. The
International Organization for Migration said
that around 71,000 people had arrived in the Ramadi area since the start of
March. In April Ramadi politicians were noting
that generators had been set up to provide electricity, water was being pumped
in from the Euphrates, ten
schools had been repaired, and 600 tents had been set up for those without
homes. When it became public that dozens of people were dying and being injured
by bombs, the tone quickly changed to an accusatory one amongst the province’s
leaders.

Who told people to go back to Ramadi became a political
dispute between the ruling Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) and the Sunni Endowment.
The Anbar Governor Suhabi al-Rawi held
the Endowment responsible for the deaths of returnees since it was given responsibility
for the process by Prime Minister Haidar Abadi. The head of the Endowment
countered by saying the authorities were stopping people from going back to
their homes, and accused the IIP of purposefully mining houses in the city. In
turn the governor created a committee to investigate the Endowment. This blame
game highlighted the struggle for power within the province. The two groups
worked closely together during he Sunni protests that started in Ramadi in
2012, but then went their separate ways. They are now competing for control of
Anbar, which the IIP has considered its base since it took power there in 2005.
As the head of the security committee on the Khalidiya council aptly pointed
out, these parties are vying for influence at the expense of the citizenry.

Anbar leaders were well aware of the dangers the recently
freed city of Ramadi still posed. The Islamic State had planted hundreds of
IEDs throughout the area as part of its defenses, and then left booby traps as
it withdrew. It was going to take months to secure the city, but the Islamic
Party and Sunni Endowment wanted to score political points by having people
back as soon as possible to build upon the success of defeating the militants.
The displaced were the ones that paid the price for this escapade. Even though
the security forces have barred further returns, there are now tens of
thousands already in Ramadi who will continue to suffer the consequences of the
political rivalry going on between the IIP and Endowment.

SOURCES

Associated Press, “Thousands Return to Iraq’s Ramadi, Where
IS Was Driven Out,” 4/10/16

Chmaytelli, Maher, “Iraqis displaced from western city of
Ramadi begin to return home,” Reuters, 4/3/16

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About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com